There wasn't much to be learned from Clare's 35-point hammering of Laois last night on a scoreline of 5-32 to 0-12. The return of David McInerney and John Conlon were perhaps the main plus points. Davy Fitzgerald didn't really concentrate on Laois after the game - instead his mind was still on the defeat to Waterford four weeks ago.
Against Waterford we made way too many mistakes. I can't even count how many mistakes.
We didn't win 50/50 balls and we're still hurt over it. We can just try to improve.
But 19-year-old Aaron Shanagher might be just the latest talent off the Banner conveyor belt - so is he ready to take up the mantle from Shane O'Donnell as Clare's latest teen goal-machine?
1 - He has a knack of racking up huge scores
Playing for Clare minors last year - Shanagher notched 3-6 against Kerry before bettering that with a huge haul of 1-13 against Tipperary. Indeed on that occasion - Shanagher outscored the entire Tipperary team - who only managed 0-12 - four less than the Banner teenager.
2 - He's take to senior level fairly handily
Shanagher made his senior league debut against Offaly back in February - and despite only coming on as a substitute in the second half - he managed to raise the green flag in the last minutes. The Wolfe Tones clubman also managed to score a crucial goal against Tipperary in the league quarter-final. He certainly seems to have a nose for goal.
3 - Davy Fitzgerald has a record of punting on youth
Who will ever forget the impact Shane O'Donnell made when Fitzgerald plucked him from relative obscurity to start Clare's All-Ireland final replay against Cork? He scored 3-3 and secured his place in Clare lore forever more.
4 - Anthony Daly is a fan too
Dalo is not a man who is too prone to exaggeration. But he was positively beaming when talking about Shanaghan on tonight's Sunday Game. "What a performance," he said. "He was a minor last year and is really stepping upto the plate".
Whisper it quietly, but Shanagher might not be the next Shane O'Donnell (who scored 1-3 last night)... he might just be better.
